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Owl City

Owl City is an electronic/synthpop musical project by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young, formed in 2007. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement. As Owl City, Young developed a following[clarification needed] through MySpace before signing with Universal Republic. After two independent albums, Owl City gained mainstream popularity with the 2009 major label debut album Ocean Eyes, which spawned the hit single "Fireflies".

History

Early years (2007–08)

Suffering from insomnia while working loading trucks in his hometown, Owatonna, MN, Young turned to composing music.[1][2][3] He began receiving attention for songs he had uploaded to MySpace, the "viral popularity" of which would later result in his signing to a major label.[3][4] In 2007, Owl City released an EP titled Of June, followed by the 2008 release of the album Maybe I'm Dreaming. Of June reached #20 on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart, and Maybe I'm Dreaming peaked on the same chart at #16.[5]

Ocean Eyes (2009–2010)

Owl City's third album, Ocean Eyes, was released on iTunes on July 14, 2009, with the physical release following on July 28, 2009. The album debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200. Owl City has released three official singles: "Umbrella Beach", "Vanilla Twilight" and "Fireflies".[6] "Fireflies" topped the US and Canadian charts and became the most-downloaded song on iTunes in the US. Ocean Eyes reached the top ten on the US album charts and topped the US electronic charts and also reached Amazon MP3's top 10 most downloaded album list. By December 2009, it was certified Gold in the United States. On January 24, 2010, Owl City reached the number 1 spot in the UK Top 40 Singles chart with "Fireflies". The song "Tidal Wave" also received significant airplay on Christian music radio stations.[citation needed]

Young is joined by Breanne Düren on several tracks; the most noted being "The Saltwater Room". Owl City's live band consists of Breanne Duren (background vocals/keyboards), Matthew Decker (drums), Laura Musten (violin), Hannah Schroeder (cello), and Daniel Jorgenson (vibes).[citation needed]

Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen has toured and collaborated with Owl City on several tracks, including "Fireflies", where Matt can be heard providing the backup vocals. Young also produced Relient K's song "Terminals". Thiessen stated that it is very likely that he and Young will produce a side project called "Goodbye Dubai" in the future.[7]

"Fireflies" was released as a free download on the iPod/iPhone game Tap Tap Revenge 3 by Tapulous. Prior to the July 14, 2009 internet release of Ocean Eyes, and the "Fireflies" single, Steve Hoover was hired as a director for a music video for "Fireflies". The video was to have had an exclusive premiere on MySpace,[8] but had been leaked onto YouTube and Dailymotion hours earlier. "Fireflies" became a big sleeper hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States for the week ending November 7, 2009.[9]

Owl City is featured on Soundtrack 90210 with a song titled "Sunburn", which was released on October 13, 2009.[10] Owl City has toured with The Scene Aesthetic, John Mayer and Brooke Waggoner. He was also guest featured in the soundtrack to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland with a song that had already been featured in his debut album, "The Technicolor Phase".[11]

All Things Bright and Beautiful (2011–present)

Young has revealed a new musical project known as Sky Sailing, moving away from his usual electronica genre of music and introducing acoustic guitar and piano accompaniments into his work. The unrefined tracks were recorded in the summer of 2007 before he began making music as Owl City.[12] His first album under this new project is entitled An Airplane Carried Me to Bed, and was released July 13, 2010 via iTunes.[13]

In May, 2010, Adam Young collaborated with high-profile British electronic composer, producer, musician, and songwriter Nick Bracegirdle. Under his Chicane alias, Bracegirdle released the single "Middledistancerunner" on 1 August 2010 featuring Adam Young on vocals. This is the first single from the fourth Chicane album Giants.

He also worked with famed Dutch producer Armin van Buuren, appearing on a track called 'Youtopia' from the forthcoming van Buuren album Mirage on September 10, 2010.

On September 21, 2010 "To the Sky" was officially released via iTunes on the soundtrack for Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole.

Young released a cover version of the praise and worship song "In Christ Alone" as a streaming mp3 on his website, [1], on October 25, 2010.[14]

On November 13, 2010, a new album was also released for one of his other musical projects, "Windsor Airlift", called "Flight" on iTunes.[15]

On November 23, 2010, a new Christmas single called "Peppermint Winter" was released. A preview had been released the previous week on Facebook.

On February 14th, 2011, it was announced that All Things Bright and Beautiful will be released on May 17. Young released a cover/reply song to Taylor Swift's "Enchanted".[16] On March 1st, he announced via his website the All Things Bright and Beautiful Tour featuring Christian recording artist Matt Kearney and Unwed Sailor. All Things Bright and Beautiful presale and tour ticket presale started March 22nd

On March 22 the debut single from the project called Alligator Sky was released on iTunes. Two versions have been released so far, with a version featuring only Adam Young on vocals and another featuring Young as well as guest rapper Shawn Chrystopher, and each version having different lyrics in the verses. Adam Young also released a song "Lonely Lullaby," available through his website which he wrote about his ex-girlfriend, Annmarie Monson. Previews of 3 songs (Honey and the Bee, Dreams Don't Turn to Dust, and Deer in the Headlights) could be heard in a making-of video posted on the official website.

Musical styles and influences

Owl City plays indietronica and alternative.[17] Young has stated that he is inspired by disco and European electronic music, as well as instrumental genres such as drone, ambient, and post-rock. He cites his biggest influences as Jonathan Ford of Unwed Sailor and Thomas Newman.[18][19][20]

Owl City also has been compared to The Postal Service.[21][22]

Other projects

Main article: Adam Young

Young also produces music under a wide variety of other projects include Port Blue, Seagull Orchestra, Sky Sailing and Swimming with Dolphins. Most of these projects were started before Owl City propelled Young to fame. Many of these projects were formed alongside some friends, including Austin Tofte of Swimming with Dolphins.

Band Members

Current Members
Current Touring Members

While Young writes, composes, records, and produces all of Owl City's music, during live performances he is accompanied by a group of supporting musicians:

Concert tours

Main article: Owl City concert tours

Discography

Main article: Owl City discography
Studio albums

References

  1. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (2009-02-17). "Whooo's Owl City?". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  2. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 20, 2009). "Adam Young, aka Owl City, Finds Pop Success". New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Frenette, Brad (2009-07-28). "Band of the Day: Owl City". The National Post. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  4. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Owl City — Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  5. ^ "Owl City > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  6. ^ "Free Download Owl City's new track: "Hot Air Balloon"".
  7. ^ "Interviews | Relient K". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  8. ^ "Info On MySpace premier of Fireflies Music Video off of an Owl City Fan Website".
  9. ^ Pietroluongo, Sylvio (2009-10-29). "Owl City's "Fireflies" Lands at No. 1 on Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  10. ^ "Sunburn". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  11. ^ "Almost Alice: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  12. ^ http://www.billboard.com/news/owl-city-s-adam-young-releases-a-new-old-1004102073.story
  13. ^ "Sky Sailing". Myspace.com. 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  14. ^ "My Hope Is Found « Owl City Blog".
  15. ^ "Windsor Airlift - Flight". itunes.apple.com.
  16. ^ "Happy Valentine's Day". 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  17. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Owl City > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-05. He eventually combined those diversions into a blend of electronica and emo-pop, ...
  18. ^ "Interview Of Adam Young Master Mind Behind Owl City". azTeen Magazine. 2010-03-00. Retrieved 2011-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2008-06-01). "Hot New Band: Owl City But GOD is his amin influnce". Spin. Retrieved 2009-11-27. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Moring, Mark. "Owls, Fireflies, and Jesus". Christianity Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  21. ^ Westhoff, Ben (2009-10-28). "Owl City: The Latest In A Long Line Of Rip-Offs". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  22. ^ Cohen, Ian (2009-11-05). "Track Reviews: Owl City - "Fireflies"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-11-26.


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